Singapore Revives Crow-Shooting Campaign Amid Debate Over Lethal Wildlife Management

The Singapore government has resumed a crow-shooting campaign in response to public complaints about crow attacks on pedestrians and cyclists. The decision comes after alternative measures such as trapping the birds, tree pruning, and removing nests proved insufficient. However, some experts argue that culling is a reactive measure that fails to address the underlying drivers of the bird boom. Ecologists point out that the abundance of nuisance birds is driven by human-made urban conditions, which provide plenty of food, nesting spots, and few predators. A global review of studies found that most crow species grow more abundant as cities expand. A Singapore-specific study from 2003 supports these findings, noting that crows often nest in urban trees such as yellow flame trees.